The eighth ship to be named Enterprise, CVN-65 upholds the proud tradition of those that came before. The seventh Enterprise (CV-6) was launched 3 October and served in many of the famous battle in the Pacific during World War II. At the battle of Midway, perhaps the ships most famous battle, Enterprise had orders "to hold Midway and inflict maximum damage on the enemy by strong attrition tactics." Each side hurled attacks at the other during the day in one of history's most decisive battles. Though the forces were in contact to 7 June, by the end of the 4th the outcome had been decided in the United States' favor. Yorktown and Hammann (DD 412) were the only United States ships sunk, but TFs 16 and 17 lost a total of 113 planes, 61 of them in combat, during the battle. Japanese losses, far more severe, consisted of 4 carriers, 1 cruiser, and 272 carrier aircraft. Enterprise and all other ships of TFs 16 and 17 came through undamaged, returning to Pearl Harbor on 13 June 1942.

CVN-65 made its maiden voyage under the command of Capt. Vincent P. DePoix, Jan. 12, 1962. In August, Enterprise joined the Sixth Fleet in the Med-iterranean. Soon after its return to Norfolk, Va., in October, Enterprise was dispatched to its first international crisis. Enterprise and other ships in the Second Fleet set up a "strict quarantine of all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba." The blockade was put in place on Oct. 24, and the first Soviet ship was stopped the next day. On Oct. 28, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles and dismantle the missile bases in Cuba.

Enterprise made its second and third deployments to the Mediterranean in 1963 and 1964. During the latter deployment, on May 13, the world's first nuclear-powered task force was formed when USS Long Beach and USS Bainbridge joined Enterprise. On July 31, the ships were designated Task Force One and sent on Operation Sea Orbit, a historic 30,565-mile voyage around the world, accomplished without a single refueling or replenishment. In October, Enterprise returned to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company for its first refueling and overhaul.

The Big E transferred to the Pacific's Seventh Fleet in November 1965 and became the first nuclear-powered ship to engage in combat when it launched bomb-laden aircraft in a projection of power against the Viet Cong on Dec. 2, 1965. Its hot decks launched 125 sorties on the first day, unleashing 167 tons of bombs and rockets on the enemy's supply lines. The next day it set a record of 165 strike sorties in a single day.

Following the 1973 cease-fire in Vietnam, Enterprise proceeded to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., where Big E was altered and refitted to support the Navy's newest fighter aircraft -- the F-14A "Tomcat." When Enterprise made its seventh Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment in September 1974, it became the first carrier to deploy with the new fighter plane. During the deployment, in February 1975, Enterprise was called on to help in the evacuation of Saigon. During Operation Frequent Wind, Big E aircraft flew 95 sorties.

The ship made its eighth and ninth WESTPACs in 1976 and 1978, respectively. It sailed to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in January 1979 for a 30-month comprehensive overhaul. Enterprise made its 10th, 11th and 12th WESTPAC deployments in 1982, 1984 and 1986, respectively. When Enterprise deployed in 1986, it became the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to transit the Suez Canal. It then entered the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in over 22 years.

In April 1988, Enterprise, on its 13th deployment, was assigned to escort reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers in the Persian Gulf while stationed in the North Arabian Sea. In a measured response, Enterprise and Carrier Air Wing 11 struck a decisive blow to the Iranian navy in the most intensely fought naval battle since the Korean campaign. Enterprise began its 14th overseas deployment in September 1989. In early December, Enterprise participated in Operation Classic Resolve, President Bush's response to Philippine President Corazon Aquino's request for air support during the rebel coup attempt. Enterprise remained on station conducting flight operations in the waters outside Manila Bay.

In March 1990, Enterprise completed its highly successful around-the-world deployment by arriving in Norfolk, Va. Enterprise had successfully and safely steamed more than 43,000 miles from its long-time homeport of Alameda, Calif. In October, Enterprise moved to Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company for refueling and the Navy's largest complex overhaul ever attempted. It returned to sea Sept. 27, 1994, for sea trials, during which Enterprise performed an extended full power run as fast as when it was new. The Big E remains the fastest combatant in the world. On June 28, 1996, Enterprise began its 15th overseas deployment. The Big E enforced no-fly zones in Bosnia (Operation Joint Endeavor) and Iraq (Operation Southern Watch).The deployment also marked the end of an era when VA-75 retired the A-6E Intruder from the Navy. Enterprise completed its deployment Dec. 20, 1996.

In February of 1997 Enterprise entered Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. for an extended selective restrictive availablity lasting four-and-a-half months. Following workups, Enterprise departed on its 16th overseas deployment Nov. 6, 1998, this time with CVW 3. Following a high-speed TransLant, Big E relieved Eisenhower in the Arabian Gulf Nov. 23.

On Dec. 16, 1998, Enterprise Battle Group assets initiated Operation Desert Fox, the aerial assault of military targets in Iraq, first with Tomahawk land attack missiles and then air strikes by CVW 3. During the 70-hour operation, Team Enterprise launched more than 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles and dropped more than 675,000 pounds of ordnance. Immediately after Desert Fox, Big E steamed to the Adriatic Sea for possible combat operations in the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo. The deployment concluded in May 1999. Enterprise is scheduled to begin its next deployment in spring-2001.